Recently, the Supreme Court imposed a cost of Rs. 1 Lakh on the Madhya Pradesh government for its delayed filing of a second appeal concerning a land dispute.
The dispute centers around valuable government lands in Majhganwa, Tehsil and District Katni, which were allegedly wrongfully claimed by Ramkumar Choudhary, the respondent, in a civil suit.
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Initially, the jurisdictional trial court had ruled in favor of the state, dismissing the respondent individual’s claims. However, the first appellate court reversed this decision, leading the State to seek a second appeal.
The delay in filing the second appeal began after the judgment of the first appellate court on August 21, 2014, which was communicated to the state authorities only in August 2015. Despite various internal delays, including lengthy review periods by the revenue and law departments, the appeal was eventually filed in October 2019, nearly five years later. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh, in its January 2024 judgment, dismissed the appeal, taking note of the failure of the State Government to provide adequate explanation for the delay.
The Supreme Court upheld this decision, ruling that the state’s explanation was insufficient and that the delay had not been justified. The Court stated that such delays caused by negligence or inaction by government officials lead to significant revenue loss and hinder justice. It further ordered the State to streamline its legal processes, hold the responsible officers accountable, and penalize them for the delay.
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In its ruling, the Court noted that delays in legal proceedings, especially by state entities, should not be excused as a matter of generosity. It reiterated that the rules of limitation are rooted in public policy and must be applied strictly to maintain the credibility of the judicial process.
The State has been directed to deposit the imposed fine within two weeks. If the amount is not deposited, the Supreme Court Registry will take necessary legal steps to recover it.
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